Counting boards



Aug 28, 1952 J. H. NEWMAN 3,051,490

COUNTING BOARDS Filed Feb. 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f j@ rj5\\ N W57 W 3 0 i? 22 ""9 i3 INV EN TOR Joh/7 H Newman ATTORNEY Aug. 28, 1962 Filed Feb. 24, 1959 J. H. NEWMAN COUNTING BOARDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3.5 32 5.52 5f' f' .f f n 3 l0/45 55 45-0 l 00000 00000 00000 00000 00000 00000 l l l i 00000 00000 00000 0 000 00000 00000 l l 0000 I' 54 l 00000/ I 55 l 00000 00000 0 000 00000 00000 00000 I I' 00000 00000 00 00 00000 00000 00000 I \0-45 45-0lI n ../I "55 f/G. 5 55J Lui i/Ul 5 (d 27 8 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O N Us JA v N w A Ln coogggggg O O\O O O O O O O O O O O O O w 5529 O C O 37 O (+3 O O O O O C C! O O O O O O O O U1 N c 1K cn "D 5 Q O g En] E@ Q03 8 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O (.40 1:-, INVENTOR 7 JUh/V H. /Vewman BY MB@ ATTORNEY United States Patent Utilice .'ililfig Patented Aug. 28, 1962 3,051,490 COUNTING BOARDS John H. Newman, 477 Holiy, St. Paul, Minn. Filed Feb. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 795,154 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-ll48) This invention relates to an improvement in counting boards and deals particularly with a multiple [game counting board device which may serve as a counting board for a plurality of games.

In card games such as cribbage a counting board is normally used to disclose the status of the players during the progress `of the game. In other games, such as live hundred, bridge, canasta, gin rummy and the like, the score is most frequently kept upon a scoring pad of a disposable type. Peg boards may also be conveniently used for such games and have the advantage of being reusable. It is an object of the present invention to provide a combination game counting board whichmay be used with any of a number of games and which is properly arranged to provide a clear indication of the score of each game at all times. Such a device has the advantage of providing a clear indication of the relative score of the players and also has the advantage of being reusable.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a game counting board including a box-shaped enclosure having a removable top and including compartments designed to contain two decks of cards and a plurality of counting pegs. The enclosure is provided with an open top which is normally closed by a top closure panel having a series of apertures therethrough into which the game pegs or counting pegs may be inserted. The apertures in the top panel are arranged in a proper relation to serve as a convenient means of keeping the score of one game, as for example, the game of Cribbage.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a series of panels of similar size which are of proper dimensions to tit within .the enclosure and each of which is provided with a series of apertures together with accompanying indicia to provide a convenient means of keeping the score of a particular game. For example, one of the panels is provided with counting pegs receiving apertures which are arranged to provide a simple means of keeping score in the game of bridge. Another of the panels is provided with apertures properly arranged to provide a simple and effective means of counting the game of five hundred. Another panel is provided with peg receiving apertures which are arranged to provide an effective means of counting the score in the game of gin rummy. Another panel is provided which is of a similar nature and is provided with apertures arranged to keep score in the game of canasta. Adjoining each of the apertures of each of the panels will be found indicia particularly adaptable to the scoring of a particular game. Thus, the game counter includes counting board panels which maybe used in the scoring of any of a series of games. As a result, rather than to provide separate types of scoring pads for each of the games in question, the score of the game may be kept through the use of a particular panel particularly designed for that game.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that each panel includes a series of spaced projections on the undersurface thereof and a series of sockets on the upper surface thereof. The removable top panel of the enclosure is provided with sockets for receiving the projections of any of the panels, the projections of all of these additional panels being similarly spaced. Furthermore, the sockets of all of the panels are spaced similarly to the projections thereof so that all of the panels may be secured together in superimposed relation and will not slide about when contained within the enclosure.

A further feature of the invention resides in the fact that any or all of the panels may be removed from the enclosure and mounted upon the removable top panel of the enclosure with the panel useful in keeping score of the game to be played uppermost. The top panel may accommodate a selected panel for counting the game to be played, or all of the panels may be placed in superimposed relation on the top panel if it is preferred.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claim.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE l isa longitudinal sectional view through the game counting apparatus in readiness for playing a game.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view through the center of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan View of the receptacle with the game counting panels and top enclosure panel removed therefrom.

FIGURE 4 is an elevational View of a type of peg which may be employed with the game counting apparatus.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan View of the game counting device.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the top cover panel of the game playing apparatus.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan View of one of the auxiliary game playing panels which are normally stored within the receptacle when they are not in use.

As is indicated in the drawings, the game counting apparatus is illustrated in general by the letter A and includes a hollow box-like enclosure which is illustrated in general by the numeral 10 and a top closure panel for the enclosure 10 which is indicated in general by the numeral 11. The enclosure 10 is constructed as is best indicated indicated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. The enclosure 10 includes a bottom panel 12, parallel side walls 13 and 14 extending upwardly from opposite sides thereof, and parallel end walls 15 and 16 extending upwardly from opposite ends thereof. The walls 13, 14, 15 and 16 form a continuous generally rectangular wall which terminates on a common plane.

A pair of transverse partition walls 17 and `19 extend between the side walls 13 and 14 parallel to the end walls 1S and 16. The side walls 13 and 14, together with the partition wall 17 and end wall 15 form a compartment 20 of proper size to accommodate a deck of cards. These side walls 13 and 14, together with the end wall 16 and partition wall 19 also form a second compartment 21 which is of proper size to accommodate a deck of cards. Apertures such as 2.2 and 23 are provided in the bottom panel 12 of each of the compartments 20 and 21 through which a finger may be inserted to assist in removing the cards from the enclosure.

A longitudinal partition wall 24 may extend between the partition walls 17 and 19 if desired to divide lthe space between these partitions linto ltwo separate compartments. This center partition 24 may be omitted if desired. The space between the side walls 13 and 14 and the partition walls 17 and 19 is shown in the drawings as forming cornpartments 25 and 26 which are designed to accommodate the counting pegs used in conjunction with the scoring of various games.

As will be noted from an examination of FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, the partition walls 17, 19 and 24 extend upwardly from the bottom panel a distance generally equal to the thickness of decks of cards such as the decks B indicated in broken outline in FIGURE 3. These partition walls thus may serve as a support for the auxiliary game counting panels which will be described.

In FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, three auxiliary game counting panels 27, 29 and 38 are shown in full lines enclosed within the enclosure l@ and resting upon the partition walls I7 and 19. A fourth game counting panel 3l is shown in full lines resting upon the top cover panel 32 and shown in dotted outline enclosed within the enclosure. The construction of the top panel 32 is best illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 of the drawings. As will be seen from these iigures, the top panel 32 comprises an elongated generally rectangular flat panel having an outer shape to conform with the outer shape of the enclosure lll. The panel 32 is provided with four rows 33 of apertures, each row including 30 apertures arranged in groups of ve with a space between each successive group. The panel 32 also includes two short rows of apertures 34 in which the counting pegs may be inserted at the start and completion of the game. The apertures are thus arranged in the manner which is conventional for Cribbage boards.

As will also be noted from the drawings, four cylindrical projections 35, these projections 35 being located adjacent the corners of the panel. As indicated in FIG- URE 3 of the drawings, sockets 36 extend vertically into the wall structure of the receptacle It) at the junctures of the side walls and end walls. The projections 35 snugly fit within the sockets 36 to hold the cover panel 32 in enclosure closing position.

The various auxiliary game counting panels 31 are identical shape and size and differ only in the `arrangement of the rows of apertures such as 37 in FIGURE 7 of the drawings. The rows of apertures are arranged in a pattern most suitable for the counting of a particular game and rows of indicia such as 39 are provided adjoining the rows of apertures to facilitate the keeping of the score. The particular game board 31 illustrated in FIGURE 7 is arranged to be useful in the scoring of the game of five hundred and the panel 31 is provided with foin' rows 37 of apertures, the four rows being arranged in pairs. The rows of each pair are designed to indicate plus and minus scores in increments of points from zero to l0() and then apertures to indicate 200, 300, 400 and 500. When the score of 100 is attained, a peg is allowed `to remain in the adjoining aperture and another peg is used to indicate scores to 200. When a score of is reached, rthe peg is moved from the aperture designated 100 to the kaperture designated 200. The scoring continues in a similar manner until the score of 500 is reached.

Each of the auxiliary game panels is provided on its upper surface which bears the indicia with sockets 4@ near the corners of the rectangular panels. As indicated in FIGURES 1 and 2 `of the drawings, the undersurfaces of the auxiliary panels are provided with generally cylindrical projections 41 which are spaced similarly to the sockets 40 and are aligned therewith. As a result, the various auxiliary panels may be stacked in superimposed relation in surface Contact as indicated in the drawings so as to be `locked together. This feature is of importance as the indicia on the various panels is usually in raised letters on the surface of the panels. As the panels are 4l usually formed of plastic, as is the enclosure 10, the sliding of the panels one upon the other would have a tendency to cause wear. By locking the panels together, they may be stored in a compact state and be free of sliding movement from one another.

As is indicated in FIGURES 5 and 6 `of the drawings, the upper surface of the cover panel 32 is also provided with sockets 4-3 which are designed to accommodate the projections '4I of any of the auxiliary panels described. Thus, when any of the auxiliary panels are to be used, they may be engaged on the cover panel which forms a base or support. The auxiliary panels are of proper size to cover all of the apertures in the cover panel when mounted in place thereupon.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in counting boards, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claim without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

A game counting apparatus including an enclosure including a bottom panel and rectangularly arranged side wall panels connected thereto and extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of parallel partition walls extending between two opposed Walls of said enclosure dividing the area of said bottom panel into a center compartment means and side compartment means between said partitions and the remaining side walls, said partitions being `of substantially less height than said side walls, a plurality of game counting panels within said enclosure and resting upon said partition walls, each of said game counting panels having apertures therein arranged in a manner for use in keeping the score of a game and including indicia adjacent the apertures to assist in the keeping of the score, each of said panels having a plurality of projections extending in parallel relation from one surface and having corresponding sockets in the opposite surface for accommodating the projections of an adjoining panel, the projections and the corresponding sockets being in axial alignment, a top closure panel of sufficient dimensions so as to overlie said side wall panels, said top closure panel having sockets therein disposed in one face for accommodation of the projections of any of the rst named panels and having projections on its other face spaced outwardly with respect to the sockets in its said one face, said side walls having pockets disposed in the upper edges thereof for accommodation of the projections `on said other face of said closure panel.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 286,583 Boteler Oct. 16, 1883 627,875 Pfeiffer et al June 27, 1899 705,873 Schinkel July 29, 1902 2,262,199 Paulson Nov. 11, 1941 2,477,825 Richardson Aug. 2, 1949 2,828,564 Barbin Apr. 1, 1958 

